Machine for manufacturing stems for tipless lamps



gully 28,) @25. mmm@ J. B. WHHTMORE ET AL MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING STEMS FOR 'I'ULESS LAMPS Filed Feb. 5, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet l` IN V EN TOR.

f d/M/ A TTRNEYS.

july 239 H925., pAg

J. B. WHITMORE ET AL MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING STEMS FOR TIPLESS LAMPS Filed Feb7 5, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. JAMES a, wH/TMo/QE J o HN E PERM/5ml July 28, 1925.

' 1,547,478 J. B. WHITMORE ET m.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING STEMS FOR TIPLESS LAMPS Filed lFeb, 5, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JAME 43A WH/TMORE JOHN E Fgt/50N Bim/@417m ATTQRNEYS;

Patented .Fully 28, i925.

unirse srArEsf PATENT. OFFICE.

JAMES B. WHITMOREAND JOHN E. FERGUSON, OE BLOOMEIELD, -NEW JERSEY, AsseNoRs To wEs'rINcnoUsE LAME OOMPANY, 4A CORPORATION OE PENNSYL- VANIA.

. MAOHINE'EOR MANUFACTURING. s'rEMs EoR.'rr1=LE`ss EAivrPs.

' i Application led February sex and StateotNfew Jersey, and JOHNE.4

FEncUsoN, a Citizen of the United States, and a resident ofBloomtield inthe county of Essex and State of 'New Jersey, have in.

vented a' newvanduseful 'Improvement in Machines for Manufacturing Stems for .Ti'p. lefs Lamps, of which the-following' is a. specification.

Our invention relates to machines in which work parts vmay be assembled and consolidated to form stems for incandescent.,

lamps. The` mechanism contemplated by our invention is particularly adapted for the manufacture ot stems of the .type used',in making tipless lamps, such stems embodying a tube for exhaust purposes.

The pnesent invention has, for one ci its object-s, the provision of a stem head com'- prising Work-holding members which -m'ay consist of a plurality of sets of jaws adapted to operate in a sequence' of the order -re quired forthe assembly ofthe-work parts, the several supportingmembers being controlled by a. single actuating lever. 'Another Objectfofthe-invention is the provision of workholding members, each .of

which may befreadilyadjusted to accom-j modatework parts'of various sizes;- and the nprovfision of s uitalO-le- ,mechanism vwhereby the sequentialforder of operationsof said members-may',-be changed at will.

lOther Objects of theinvention have todo with various features 'ofcon'struction and arrangement of partsl which will manifestv themselves upon a reading of the following description: ,l A v ln the accompanying drawings, -Fig. l is a front elevation of our stem-head or stemformingmechanism; Fig. 2 i's a vertical sec-v tion ot the head taken on `line II-II of Fig. 1; Figui. is a front elevation of the head showing the jaws open to receive the work blanks which form' the stem; Fig. 4

is a top plan view of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a.' front elevation of the head, partly in sec-V tion, taken on lineA V-V of Fig. 4; 6 is a transverse section of the head taken on a citizen of the United States, and a with 'an exhaust-tube.

,machines vof the type s, 1921. serial- N6.'4421,l2 19,.

'une vi vr 'of Eiga is an elevation of a vmodified form of one'of the parts of theghead; Fig. 8 is 1.a planfview of the part shown in Fig. ,"r'v; Fig. '9 isan enlarged vview .of aportion' jof the head,`partly in secltion,` showngall of the-,jaws closed; Fig.

10 is `anenlarg'ed transverse cross-section of vthe head taken on `line X4-X of Fig. 1; Fig.

1 1-is a detail'of oneoif the parts of the head, .`shown partly in section, yand Fig. 12 is an elevation of a complete lamp Vstem provided -Generally speaking to which',l this invention relatesfmay com.-

prise in themain, a central' hub rotatably mounted upon afjbase'and provided with-a ,circular plate or carriage vrigidly secured to-v the hub and having 'a plurality .of bearings ldisposed near. its vperiphery-'in 'which lare mounted -acorresponding number ,-of. work# holdingv devices or heads for supporting sev,

eral 'Work blanks, including a soec'alled eX- haust tube.

Means mayjifbe providedl for i `revolving the carriage step by step,the

heads being rotatable'independently ofthe .c arriagewhich isindeXed to move 'a given distance at each step, `and the headsbein-g adaptedto connect with driving mechanism and rotate constantly during the stages in which the carriage is stationary. The'vvorl holdingheads carried in the outerbea-ringsof `the machine hold and rotate work-blanks in the-path'ofa suitable flame vlocated at vgiven stages and designed to -make'the glassv parts plastic, press-forming yjaws being then .actuated to compress the plast-ic portion and consolidate .the blanks. so that, in the final i operation' or completion of a given cycle, a' mount `or stem is formed. j .Most of the apparatus just described 'is not of our invention and, consequently,- is.

not illustrated or described in detail, as our invention resides in the improvement of the work-holding" devices mentioned above, wherebythe several parts which form the 'stem may be supported in ,vertical alignmentand the said jaws may be operated either in the proper sequence to receive the work or in rapid succession to release the work. l

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

the head includes a standard or post 2 hav-l ing upper and lower cross arms 3 and 4, respectively. The lower arms are provided with bearings 7 and 8, and the upper arms with bearings 9 and 10. Integral with the post, and at the lower end thereof, is a Stem or hollow shaft 11 which may be journaled in. a 'suitable bearing of a carriage common -to *machines of this class. A shoulder at the u per end of the stem affords a bearing sur ace for the rotatable head.

Therstem 11 projects below the carriage and is equipped with a gear wheel 21 which 'is arranged to mesh with suitable opposing teeth to effect the rotation of the head at the required stages. The carriage is adapted to vconvey the gear 12 to a driving position and then away from the same when a given period of time has elapsed. The'heads are rotated during ,the periods when the carriage is stationary and, heat is being applied to the work b v suitably located burners.

Nithin the post 2 and continuous with .the f hollow portion of the stem 11, is a counter bore, and, located within the 'stema 11, is a movable rod 17 connected to a cross-head 18 which is reciprocated within the bore of the post 2 'by the movement of the said rod. A

cam or other means (not shown) is provided for moving the rod 17 at the proper stages 4during a revolution of the carriage,

for purposes to be presently explained.

The downward movement of the crosshead 18 is limited by the flange or ledge 19, and the rod 17. and cross-head 18 are 'normally retained in their lower positions I lengths may be supported' in the sleeve 24 in which an adjusta le sto 25 is provided to increase or decrease the diapth of its tubular aperture in which the arbor is located when the work blanks are assembled. The stop is adjusted by means of a screw 26 which holds a small friction plate 27 against the'edges 28 of a slot at one side of the member24. (See Fig. 11). The said tubular member'is machined with 'a collar 29 which'rests upon the upper end of the'post 2 and is provided with pockets 30 to receive the ends of leadin wires. j

Lugs 33 and 34 are located on `opposite sides of the upper portion of the post 2 to provide bearings for arms 35 and 36 which carry press-forming jaws 37 and 38. Slots 32. disposed at opposite sides of the post, permit the vertical movement of the crosshead 18 and its projecting portions or bearings 31. The arms 35 and 36 are connected to the bearings of the cross-head 18 by links 39 and 40, and the reciprocation of the rod 17 effects the actuation ofthe press-forming jaws, which close upon and impress `the work. The desired spacing of the said jaws,

when closed, is maintained by means of the adjustment of set-screws 43.

The head is provided with a plurality of pairs of work-holding clamps which may consist'of arborsupporting jaws 57 located upon arms 58 and 59 secured at theupper ends of tubular outer-shafts 60 and 61, interby, and are rotatable in, bearings 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the cross arms 3 and 4, and the arms carrying the three sets of jaws are adapted to 'swing' in arcs in horizontal planes and it is important that the pairs of jaws 45, 50 and 57 shall be in vertical alignment t-o hold the vario-us parts to be consolidated, on a common axial line.

An actuating lever 44, provided with a finger piece 42 and a short arm 41 -(see Fig. 10), is secured to the lower end of the spindle 49, and spindle 48 is provided with a split collar (see\Fig. 3) and has a projectinpr arm similar to the arm 41. The arm 41 and the arm of collar 65 are connected by a link 66 whereby the operatio-n -of the lever 44 causesa rotative movement of the two rods 48 and 49 and the jaws attached thereto.

The shafts 53 and 54, which carry the intermediate jaws, are provided with collars having arms 67 and 68 connected by a link 69. Shafts 60 and 61, whichcarry the lower jaws 57, areprovided with collarshaving arms 70 and 71 connected by a link 72. The j awst', 57 and 50 are held normally closed y means of springs 73, 74 and 75, respectively, each of which has one endv secured to the stationary crossarm and the opposite end connected to the respective links in such a manner as to tensionally hold the jaws closed;

For the purpose. of operatingr the upper, lower, and intermediate jaws 45, 57 and 50', either in close sequence or substantially simultaneously, an extension arm 76 is integral with the link 66 and is arranged io move towards the ends of the links 69 aud 72 as the lever 44 is actuated. Set screws 79 and 80 are located on the arm 76 oppo site the link lends 72 and 69 respectively. for

contact therewith as the arm is moved. This arrangement affords an adjustable mecha- Vnism controlled by the single actuating; le-

ver 44 for timing the movement of the jaws 50 and 57 in relating to the actuation of the jaws 45 which are directly connected to the lever. The initial movement of the lever lil() 'mamas 44 will thus cause the yupper jaws'to hperl-5` and a continued movement will, when the set screws are adjusted vas illustrated,cause set screw 80 to Contact with and' move link 69 to e`ect the opening of jaws 50, and. a further continued movement Will cause the jaws 57 to open. A button 81, provided on the side of the post 2 opposite to theinger piece. of the actuating lever44.. isso vposi`l tioned as to 'a1ord a grip for the operator when manipulating the said lever.

In order. to more readily conduct the lead- .in Wires 104 tothe wells, or pockets 3 0, a

pair of supplemental guides or pockets are provided, vconsisting of vertical grooves 8'5 and 8.60n the faces of the opposite javvs? -an d', sol disposed, When-thel jaws' are 'in a ,the-*weils e0.

v`ap'plied'to. the blanks in the assembly; of the justable lstop '25.

tceth to engage `with the threaded' portion closedt position, as to form continuations of When the lead-in Wires are stem, they'pass through the grooves 85 and .SG'which form pocketsbetween the" closed jaws 57 and -into the Wells liOjand'f can b e;

either stopped by surfaces 82 provietledin the member'24 or else `on the lugs lprojecting from the opposite sides of the vertically ad' For thepurpose oficonveniently adjustff ing the space .between theworkiholding jaws, when' closed, We"4 ma'y-f' provide,j las and 8, thellowe r ends of, the spindles 48 and 49 or'the tubularshafts' shown in Figs. '7

with an annular groove having suitable of a rotatable pin or Worm 91 when intane gentialcontact with the said fgrooye.""-Tlie means is embodied split' collar 92, and

' 'VVhen the adjusting means'- isincorpovrated in the mechanism of the head and it pin '91 -isshown' journaled vin a j suitable bearing provided in split collar-'.92 which is adapted "to be secured to the spindles an vshafts and 'is provided-With anarm"`95.- It' willV readily 'b e fseen that this jaw-adjusting', in, and carried by., the

substituted forthe collars shown in the assembledvieivs and connectedby the links 66. 69' and 72.

is desirable to 'adjust any'of the Worli--hold--4 93 of the :collar 92 is tated, causing a'frot'atio'n of the spindle or 'sleeve 'carryingtlie arml of a--givenr ivith a consequent in ovement;:of` the jaW' un der adjustment.f;either away `from or. to;

sleeve or spindleubyt means of the screw 93.-v

This const ructio'n provides va means for individually adjustingl and maintaining the v'desired relation'ofthe'jaws toftlie work."

The sleeves and spindles are also adapt'edffor vertical adjustment Qand the vertical `digtance between the work-holding clamps may thus be varied' to accommodate Work parts being guidedinjto thefvvellpockets as prothe samemay be readily of different lengths. A'H7 for instance, it is desirable to cliange'the distance between a pair of clamps, thesplit collars at the lowerl end of the sleeves'orjspindles are loosened andthe said sleeves'- oi'."spindles may,. .'be

moved up: or downto. adjust the*elainps in.1 1Ivvr given. relative position.A

vIn the operation of the stemliead-if.orming` machines, as contemplated' by the present invention, the operator presses .tlie finger piece 42 of the actuating leverto cause all The jarbor or glass rod. is then. inserted in the holder 24 land of the jaws ,to open.

supported in its proper position by means of the adjustable stop'25, set to accommodate a vgive'n arbor finger piece, the 'ja'vvs close and grip the .arbor to Ysupport it vertically in" the head.`

TheV inger piece is againfinoved tofb'ri-ngth'e i Aset sc'rew'80' in'contact 4v vith the of, the

80' length?? Upon releasing the.

linkf69j': thus' causing a movement of the i ulink andtlie'actuation ofthe j-awsfO. Flare tube-lorie t-lien placed overtheexposed end" .I

.of-the arbor', with its'smaller end'res'ting? upon thejjawsf'; The Vrelease of the finger piece permitstl-ie'javvs 57 to` close and grip then inserted intofthefflareltube', their ends vided,

.44 a relatively]shortdistanceA to cause' the jaws 45 to open suiiciently for'the admission.A of "the yexhaust tubezf-`Wlien-an exhaust tube 4has'. been-arranged in position, the release fof-,the leverpermit's the'saidjaws" to #close it'v vertically in d" thev head., 'It' vwill, "ftlierefore, be understoodvrl that an exhaust tube'finay be inserted and the flare tube to grip the ,tube. and support held in itsproperfrelation to and arbor and-that allthe parts` will beheld possible for-I the operatorftojapply an exI .the-"said flareft'ube. Lead-inwires 104 'are fes To apply 'the exhaust tube"102,`it is then vsimply;necessary to m'ove the actuating lever f assembled f; and secured line -by th'ei .-res'pe is applied.'"locall'y 'plastic certain comrnon 'axial to he' blanks' to' render thereof. t Any de- `'sirablefo'rm oli-i-Eeati'ng'elemen't ma be 'emplayed 'for heatingthe assembled g ass f por'- Q bled thfat their ends are concentrically dis'posedforthe' 'application of heat, 'Burnjacent the path of movement of 'the-heads so thatvvhen a .head is in a-givenposition,

' the fiames will be caused to impinge upon the work to4 render a portion thereof plastic. After the glass stem parts have been rendered suiiiciently plastic, suitable mechanism effects an-pupward` movement of the rod 17 and the press-forming jaws 37,an.d

Azes

38\ are operated to compress the plastic portion vand thusconsolidate the several work parts to Iform a lamp stem.

The tube, which is provided for exhaust purposes, having thus been combined with V the arbor and flare, it becomes necessary to form an aperture near the end thereof to r'afford a communication l(after lthe stem has been sealed into a bulb) between `the interior of the bulb and the exhaust equipment. This may be accomplished by maintaining the lower' portion of the flare'tube and the exhaust tube in a plastic condition by means of heat. These tubes are thus caused to unite and form a single wall. The end of the arbor disposed within the flare tube is also rendered plastic and unites with the other glass parts. A `current of air under pressure may then be directed down the exhaust tube to puncture the incandescent wall at the union of the tubes to forman aperture 103 as shown in Fig.

'12. Any suitable means may be employed forA puncturing the wall and, as shown in Fig. 2, an air pressure line 60 may be sol located that when the stem head is disposed in a given position, a stream of air will pass down the exhaust tube and a puncture in the incandescent wall result.

Means for forming the aperture 103' and the mechanism to effect the consolidation of' the several pieces of workmay be of any well known design and constitute no partof our invention which may be said to consist principally in the provision of a stem-head provided with several pairs of jaws which may be operated independently or in seuence by means of a singleactuating lever, t e same also being arranged toppen the jaws in rapid succession.'

ln quantity production ofarticles of this character, elimination ofunnecessary manual movements is an important factor: 'Our stem head has been constructed particularly with this end in view, and the order in which we have described the assembly of the component part of the stem has been .invention combines, in a convenient and simple structure, elements by means of which the features for rapidly producing 'mined order of positive sequential movements and means associated with said jaws whereby said order of ,sequence may be varied.

2. A stein-forming machine comprising a plurality of pairs of work-holding jaws, means for operating the jaws in va predetermined order of sequence and means associated with said jaws whereby said seque n-` tial order may be varied.

3. A machine for assembling'and uniting work parts to form a stem'foran incandescent electric lamp comprising a plurality of pairs of work-holding jaws adapted to move in horizontal planes, an actuating lever for independently operating each pair of jaws to receive and support the respective work parts, means for consolidating -the supported parts, said lever being adapted to actu- Y ate said pairs of work-holding jaws in suc-' l cession tov releasey the consolidated parts and f adjustable means upon said actuating lever to permit a variation in the order of actuationof said work-holding jaws.

4. A means for assembling andconsolidating a plurality of glass parts to form stems for incandescent electric lam-ps, the combination of upper, 'lower and intermediate100 j work-holdingclamps, an actuating leverfor operating said clamps to receive and support an arbor and flare tube lon a vertical axial line, said lever being adapted to independentlyv operate the vupper work-holding clamps toreceive and support an exhaust` i tube, means upon said lever for varying the relative operation of said clamps and means .for heating and compressing the parts.`

5. A means for assembling and consolidating va plurality of glass parts4 to-form stems of incandescent electric lamps the combination of upper, lower and intermediate work-holding clamps, i each of said clamps comprising a4 pair 'of oscillatory 115 jaws, link connection-between each pair of saidjaws, an actuating lever for engaging said links to effect an operation of said jaws and means associated with said lever for varying the order of operation of said pairs of jaws and means for heating and compressing to consolidate saidqglass parts.

6. A means for assembling and consolidating a plurality offglass parts to forml stems for incandescent'electric lamps, th'e 125 combination of upper, lower and intermediate workholding` clamps, each of said clamps comprising a pair of oscillatory jaws, link .connection between said jaws, an actuating lever adapted to engage with the ends of said links to operate said jaws, set screws upon said lever to provide adjustable contact surfaces for engagement with the ends of said links to vary the relative operations of said jaws and means :tor heating and compressing to consolidate said parts held by said clamps.

7. A machine for assembling and uniting work parts comprising a plurality of jaws adapted to move in horizontal planes vtoward the axial line of the work and means for adjusting the position of each jaw with relation to the said axial'line. y

S. AA machine 'for assembling and consoli! dating work parts to form stems for incandescent lamps, the combination of work-- holding jaws arranged to move toward the axial line of the worl; and means connected with each jaw whereby each of the said jaws may be adjusted to alter its operative relation with said axial line of the work.

, 9. In a machine for assembling and consolidating glass parts to form stems for incandescent lamps, the combination of a plurality of work-holding jaws arranged to move toward the axial line oi' the work, the said jaws being supported on cylindrical members having annular threads about a portion thereof, a rotatable worm disposed in mesh with the said threads for the purpose of rotating the cylindrical member to vary the position of the jaws with respectll to th'e axial line of the work and means for looking the'said cylindrical member in such position.

10. In a machine for assembling and con-V solidating a plurality of glass parts to form a lamp stem, the combination of upper, lower and intermediate jaws for holding the said parts on a common axial line, the said upper jaws being secured at the upper ends of spindles, the intermediate jaws being secured at the ends of shafts movable about vthe said spindles and the lower jaws being secured to movabley outer-shafts, collars hav ing arms' integral therewith'secured at the i lower ends of the shafts and spindles, link connections between the collars upon the shafts and spindles carrying opposing jaws, and meansy for adjusting the said jaws whereby their relation to the axial line of the work may be varied and maintained as desired. i

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this second day of February, 1921. j,

f JAMES B; WHITMORE.

JOHN E. FERGUSON. 

